Tom_NUFC

I think it's a lot harder to define now than it used to be. Generally, it used to be that if you had an office or civil service job or you were a professional (eg doctor, solicitor, teacher) you were Middle Class. If you were doing a manual or a skilled industrial job, you were Working Class. Nowadays, you can have Plumbers, Mechanics etc earning the same or more than some civil servants and officce workers. also, with the decline in heavy industry, more people are doing clerical/office based jobs, so nowadays the lines are blurred. Then you have people defining theirs and other people's class in different ways. Some people will define it on their family background, some on their job and lifestyle. Personally, I've never been sure. My Mam was a teacher (she's now retired), which as a professional occupation is probably Middle Class. My maternal Grandparents were very much Middle Class. Big semi detached house with a big garden in a leafy, affluent suburb. My Grandad was fairly high up in the civil service, and was privately educated. My dad though left school at 15, did his apprenticeship, became a Turner, worked at Parsons and Swan Hunters, and was the son of a miner and a school cook. So basically, he's from solidly working class background. So, where does that put me? I'm not sure. If I go on my parents background, I'm in the middle. workwise, I'm a civil servant - but whilst I'm not on minimum wage, I'm not on a great deal of money - enough to get by. I went to University, but I'm not sure that makes me Middle class. I grew up in, and still live in Heaton, which has always been a mixture of Working and Middle Classes. These days, I just don't worry about it. it's not that important. I've met people from all sorts of backgrounds, and you find that you find really nice and really nasty people at all points of the spectrum, and what kind of person someone is, is more important than their class.

No shit Aye, well I suppose that was a bit obvious.

Our official work do was last Friday, I didn't go because it was at SJP, and other than tickets, Ashley's getting no money off me. From what everyone who went has said this week, it was shite and the food was poor. We have a 'lad's night' out as well, which is basically just the blokes, going for a drink down at the Ouseburn pubs straight from working and then moving into town. But no one's decided yet if we're doing that on Friday, or next wednesday.

That and Malayan is the most vile creation known to mankind, and certainly not worthy of the label curry. Watch you don't get diabetes from it. I like Korma, Kashmiri and Malayan curries. They're good for getting 'beginners' into curries. I've progressed onto more spicier curries (though I don't like blow your head off strength), but I still go for them now and again.

Here's a simple one, and reasonable calorie-wise as well. Prawns or Chicken 1 Onion 3 Garlic cloves 1 Green Chilli 1 Red Chilli 1 Banana 1 tin of light Coconut Milk Tumeric Cumin Garam Masala Taramind Paste Fresh Coriander Basmati Rice Pilau Rice Seasoning Salt Start with the rice.. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how to boil a pan of rice. Add a pinch of salt, and the pilau rice seasoning. I like to have Garlic Pilau Rice. For this, chop up a clove of garlic, and add. Chop up the rest garlic, and the onion, and fry for a minute or two. Add the prawn or chicken (if you use frozen prawns, stick them in from frozen and they provide water, which makes sure the curry isn't too dry. Once the prawns have thawed (usually after 2-3 minutes on a high heat), stir in the tumeric, garam masala and cumin, and allow the prawns to cook in a runny paste , stirring regularly so that the mixture doesn't dry and burn. Chop up the chillies and the banana and again, stir into the mix. Add a teaspoon of taramind paste and once fully mixed in, stir in the coconut milk. Allow to cook for a further 3 or 4 minute before chopping up and adding the coriander. Stir in to thicken up, and once the curry resembles a thick sauce take off the heat. By now the rice should be cooked. Drain it off and serve the rice onto plates, before adding the curry. Depending on what you do with the chillies, you should be able to alter the strength to your liking. I cut the ends off the chillies and semi-de-seed them. Doing that should give you a medium strength curry that isn't mild, and has a bit of a kick, but is pleasant to eat and won't have your arse performing Ring of Fire all night!

Done it once to kill some time. I was meant to be meeting a friend, but he text me to say he was going to be delayed by a couple of hours about 15 mins before I was due to meet him. Too much of a hassle to go back home and then go out again, so I went to the cinema. I felt very paranoid about watching a film by myself.

Probably interested. Just working out if there's some way that I can get in under my own steam, but I probably won't be able to, in which case I'll more than happily chip in under the Toontastic banner. Probably around the £100 mark.

I'm hearing that he might have problems as it would appear that the freemen of the city own the name and if they gave permission, it would be they who would get any revenue from naming rights, not Ashley.

His Autobiographies, An Englishman Abroad and Fairwell but not Goodbye are both really good reads. There's of course a bit of overlapping, but enough differences to make reading both worthwhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOuKosMtceY

Never saw any bother myself, but then I was straight on the coach. Saw a few kids in Stone Island before the game who called us Geordie Cunts. They were only about 16 and were posturing but I think if the prospect of a fight came up, they'd probably have shit themselves. But most the Forest fans were OK. Sounds like one of the little fuckers after the game who was shouting some abuse at some of our lot until I tapped him on the shoulder and advised him it wasn't a good idea to carry on. His face was a fucking picture when he realised he wasn't with 'friends'. The whole place pissed me off yesterday. Loads of bars not letting you in, few of the cunts seemed friendly and that isn't the way to go when you've a large (and in some cases, drunk) following coming to town. Almost got arrested for telling a policeman a couple of home truths as the home fans could goad and mock at will but we apparently weren't. We owe these small cocks a heavy defeat and at the minute, I really don't fancy seeing any of the fuckers in Rosies or wherever when they come up here. They'll have a fucking nerve if they do. Just as we were pulling in to the coach park, the steward on the coach told us there was a club beside Trent Bridge which would let us in. When we went round, all we could see was a bar called the Larwood or something, with a big sign saying Home fans only. We went round the corner and were about to go a bar when some Forest fans told us the bar round the corner was much better. There were a couple of Police who said we'd be allowed in. so we had a look. It was canny, but absolutely jammed. But there were both sets of fans in there and it was fine. Forest fans were chatting with us, and apparently a lot of pubs are now Home fans only because there'd been bother with some away fans last year. I was a bit apprehensive about the Police, but the ones I encountered were quite helpful and friendly.

Never saw any bother myself, but then I was straight on the coach. Saw a few kids in Stone Island before the game who called us Geordie Cunts. They were only about 16 and were posturing but I think if the prospect of a fight came up, they'd probably have shit themselves. But most the Forest fans were OK.

Early on next year. Of course, when we first formed as NUSC we said the Interim Committee would be in place until June 2009. Since then of course we moved down the route of converting to a trust (which was approved by the vast majority of members). In doing so, of course we've been talking to and taking advice from Supporters Direct. They said that with us changing to Trust status over the summer, the June elections would have to be put back. Once the Trust was in place, they then said there would be a bedding in period (which is where we are at right now) lasting a few months. The timeline that they drew up takes us into the new year, around January/February, before elections would be held. Supporters Direct will assist us in this process to ensure that they meet all of their criteria and rules. What I would say is that although the conversion to the Trust has put the elections back, it also guarantees them. Under the rules drawn up by Supporters Direct, Trusts MUST hold elections.

I thought it was "You went and sacked Bobby Robson". Either way, I was a little bit disappointed by it. It shouldn't have happened, but then that's something we all know, and it wasn't us who did it, it was Shepherd. I didn't think it was what the day was supposed to be about. There were two clubs that Bobby Robson cared about/loved deeply, and the two clubs where he was revered the most. I thought it slightly tainted it. I just thought it was a cheap shot aimed at people who themselves were disgusted by his sacking. But that was just a very small part. That aside, I thought both sets of fans were great, and Ipswich as a club seemed to have done a terrific job organising the day. I know his achievements in terms of cups were greater at Ipswich, but the way he turned us around and had us playing was also a great achievement, and as a lifelong supporter, a man from the North East, proud and passionate about the North East - I think he should have a stand here too. He could have the East Stand, or, if the club are determined not to use the name 'Gallowgate' now that its the South Stand rather than the Exhibition - give him that. Personally, again, if 'Leazes' is not to be used, strip John Hall of the stand he named after himself and give it to Bobby.

Red Dawn was good

I normally avoid them, although I did by a Ben Sherman t-shirt a few months ago, as it had loads of Gibson guitars on it. I did think twice before buying it, but the guitars outweighed the very small Ben Sherman logo. Sports Direct, obviously. Orange - used to work them, and they were sh*tty to work for.

Well, I'm NE corner, which is technically the Leazes.

That's pretty much what we thought, and I think even the club think like that. But you know... I mean, the thing wouldn't have been allowed to be built, let alone open to the public if there was a danger that someone could fall out. Whoever it was who came up with that theory needs their head testing, but that's the reason we were given.

First I knew about it Bollocks. He doesnt speak for the Trust, yes on paper we see it as a canny idea and are making enquiries as to the members views on it but thats it, he doesnt speak for the trust, he sure as fuck doesnt speak for me and theres no way on this earth he speaks for our members. Just to echo Peter's comments, a couple of committee members have met with them, we are talking to them, but that's all. We have not endorsed them or given them our backing. I still don't know enough about it all to give it my personal backing, and the majority if not all of the committee are the same. So he's getting ahead of himself to say we're behind it 100%, ESPECIALLY to say that all of our members are. We've sent a quick questionnaire out to our members to get some basic opinions. But I bet most people like me won't know the answer to some questions. Hope you've wrote to him telling him his comments are libelous. It's something I'll have a chat about with the lads who have been talking to him. Because I'm not comfortable about that aspect. I'm quite happy for us to be talking to them, but personally I'm not going to back it until I know what its all about. As committee members, we don't know the full picture about them yet, so how we can endorse them, let alone the rest of our members is beyond me. That's not to say I'm against them, just not in a position to give them the backing they're claiming NUST are right now.

Unfortunately, the real world is not as straightforward as that, Tom: The law states that persistent standing is not allowed during the course of play. If a local council discovers that persistent standing is taking place they can, in theory close whole stands or even stadia. You cannot simply say 'the customer is always right, fans will do as they please'. As I said before, if the stewards really wanted to, they could make us sit down. But they let us off - and have done for years. This is true. I was one of the NUSC committee members who turned up en-masse at a supporters panel meeting back in January, the first time NUSC and the club established direct dialogue. Anyway, the stewarding in Level 7 was one of the main issues we put to the club. We had e-mails from members and non-members alike with frankly shocking accounts of the stewarding. We showed them to the club and they agreed. Hopefully that's improved - if it hasn't please contact NUSC. But the club pointed out exactly what Tom mentioned about the council. Newcastle City Council are/were concerned about persistent standing in level 7. The club told us that the council were concerned with people standing up constantly, someone could fall out of Level 7! Now this probably seems an EXTREMELY unlikely scenario, and that's the impression the club seemed to give as well, but their argument was the council thought this was a possibility. Therefore the club had/has to take preventative action or face the council shutting down all of Level 7 on safety grounds. I'm not saying I, or NUSC agree with that, just that that is the reason the club gave us in January.

If football's finances weren't so skewed in 2009 (the riches of the premiership) would that affect your answer or others on here I wonder? I understand what you say and given the finances logic is undoubtedly on your side. But football supporting is an emotion and for me the thrill of winning the FA cup say would last for a lifetime. The novelty of promotion would quickly wear off when (in all probability) we struggle to break into the top 8 and resume our routine humpings off the top teams. Back when we were in the old 2nd division in the early 90s, before the Premier League and the massive financial investments, I still wanted promotion more than anything else.

First I knew about it Bollocks. He doesnt speak for the Trust, yes on paper we see it as a canny idea and are making enquiries as to the members views on it but thats it, he doesnt speak for the trust, he sure as fuck doesnt speak for me and theres no way on this earth he speaks for our members. Just to echo Peter's comments, a couple of committee members have met with them, we are talking to them, but that's all. We have not endorsed them or given them our backing. I still don't know enough about it all to give it my personal backing, and the majority if not all of the committee are the same. So he's getting ahead of himself to say we're behind it 100%, ESPECIALLY to say that all of our members are. We've sent a quick questionnaire out to our members to get some basic opinions. But I bet most people like me won't know the answer to some questions.

Promotion is much more important. As much as I want us to win a cup (be it the FA Cup, League Cup or one of the European cups) it is far more important to achieve promotion. When we were promoted in 1992/93, that was far and away more important than any cup win. That's not to say cup wins aren't important, and that I don't want us to do well in them this season, of course I do. I would love it, but if you're asking which I want more, promotion every time.

The third album became popular to abuse, even Noel did, but I think it was tremendous personally and I agree the first three were class. Aye, Be Here Now was fantastic. A little bit overblown perhaps, due to them being coked up, but still really good. For me, Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants was the nadir, and after that they improved again, although they've never hit the heights of their first two albums again. I've seen them live 5 or 6 times and they are a brilliant live act. I think what'll happen now is there'll be a break, Noel will do some solo stuff. Oasis might continue without him for a while, but at some point, I'd bet he goes back.

by seconds!